Taiwan advances low-carbon hydrogen initiatives as the Ministry of Economic Affairs finalizes draft guidelines for domestic certification. Consequently, the system complements the Taiwan Renewable Energy Certificate framework and prevents repeated disclosure of environmental benefits. Therefore, officials expect the low-carbon hydrogen certification to help industries verify emissions and adopt cleaner energy practices.
The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection completed the draft guidelines in May and subsequently signed an agreement with an EU technical support team. The team reviews the guidelines to ensure alignment with EU voluntary certification schemes. Moreover, the guidelines specify certificate issuance formats, disclosure requirements, cancellation processes, and carbon emissions inventory boundaries.
Experts emphasize that low-carbon hydrogen can decarbonize energy-intensive industries while giving companies verifiable environmental credentials. For instance, Hsu Chia-wen, assistant researcher at the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, explained that certification provides hydrogen with a recognized international identifier. As a result, this system motivates businesses to adopt clean hydrogen and accelerate energy transition efforts.
Industry sources note that market demand for low-carbon hydrogen depends on economic incentives and regulatory compliance. Additionally, certification allows companies to prove environmental attributes, trade verified credits, and incorporate them into government policies. Therefore, firms must provide full greenhouse gas emissions data, including electricity sources, energy use, raw materials, and transport, for third-party verification.
Taiwan’s T-REC system tracks renewable electricity, whereas low-carbon hydrogen certification evaluates carbon intensity and life-cycle emissions. By combining the two systems, authorities prevent duplicated disclosure of environmental benefits, support domestic energy strategies, and help companies meet international sustainability frameworks.
Certification becomes essential for firms participating in initiatives like RE100, the Carbon Disclosure Project, Science-Based Targets, and EU sustainability reporting directives. Consequently, companies without credible hydrogen certification may lose competitiveness and face higher carbon tariffs in EU markets.
Taiwan will phase in certification by initially focusing on domestic electricity, fuel usage, and emissions during production and pre-delivery operations. Later, authorities will include imported materials and overseas transport emissions to reduce pressure on local industries. Analysts say this strategy strengthens Taiwan’s position in clean hydrogen markets and supports industrial adaptation.
Ultimately, Taiwan’s low-carbon hydrogen certification demonstrates its commitment to energy transition, international alignment, and sustainable industrial practices. Furthermore, experts believe it could serve as a model for other countries developing hydrogen certification frameworks.
